en.Wedoany.com Reported - Google's Intrinsic is launching a modular intelligent cell designed to bring artificial intelligence into complex assembly, with plans to pilot it at Foxconn factories later in 2026.
The Intrinsic intelligent cell aims to provide a physical template for integrating AI capabilities into automation products. Designed for complex assembly, the cell will be piloted for electronics assembly at Foxconn's production facilities later this year. The technology was showcased at the Automate show in Chicago, demonstrating electronics assembly tasks using FANUC robots.
This collaboration follows the establishment of a joint venture between the two companies in 2025. Foxconn Chairman and CEO Young Liu stated that partnering with Intrinsic leverages its expertise in AI-driven robotics, a synergy that complements Foxconn's global manufacturing leadership. Intrinsic CEO Wendy Tan White noted that both parties are working together to bring the value of AI into the physical world.
Modular work cell manufacturing adopts a flexible production strategy that connects independent, self-contained automation cells. Each module handles a specific process, such as assembly or testing. These modules can be rearranged, added, or repurposed, allowing rapid adaptation without stopping the entire production line. Individual cells can also be replaced or repaired to reduce downtime. This strategy is often used by companies producing customized products or multiple batches, enabling gradual automation introduction, allowing manual or semi-automated modules to participate in production before fully automated modules are added.
In manufacturing, errors can lead to millions of dollars in downtime losses, making new technologies like AI potentially difficult to implement. Upgrading old hardware and investing in systems capable of handling AI can also increase expenses. Intrinsic's work cell is designed to facilitate the integration of AI-based robotic capabilities into automation products. It runs on IntrinsicOS, a dedicated Linux-based operating system designed as a foundational software layer for running, managing, and securing intelligent industrial robot applications. By adopting a software-first, modular approach, the company aims to make intelligent robotics accessible to manufacturers of any scale. Currently, Intrinsic is collaborating with CNC system integrators Trinity Automation and MartinSystems to help integrate AI skills and capabilities into next-generation products.
Intrinsic started as an internal moonshot project within Alphabet's X lab in 2016, became an independent Alphabet subsidiary in 2021, and was formally integrated directly into Google in February 2026. The company has grown through acquisitions of other robotics firms, including AI and robotics company Vicarious, and several divisions of Open Robotics, the creator of the ROS open-source ecosystem. Since becoming part of Google, the group now operates as an independent entity closely linked with Google DeepMind and Google Cloud, utilizing the Gemini AI model. Its mission is to create a universal AI and software platform that can run on any robot.
